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THE sinking of the unarmed World War II hospital ship Centaur and the courage and sacrifice of those on board showed the best and worst of humanity, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has told a national memorial service.

Mr Rudd joined more than 600 people at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane for a service to commemorate the Centaur yesterday.

The hospital ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine 48km off Moreton Island on May 14, 1943.

Of the 332 people on board, only 64 survived.

The ship was found by shipwreck hunter David Mearns in December and is now surrounded by a 200-hectare protection zone to stop souvenir hunters.

“Today we honour courage, today we honour sacrifice, today we honour passion,” Mr Rudd told the congregation, standing in front of the Australian flag, the Red Ensign and the International Red Cross flag.

“These are the noblest of human values, these are the noblest of Australian values.

“For this is the story of the Centaur, which must be told as it shows the best of humanity and the worst of humanity at work.”

Premier Anna Bligh told the congregation the ceremony was a day of remembrance and to give gratitude to those who died on board, some of whom were as young as 15.

She also praised the efforts of the 2/3 AHS Centaur Association, which pushed for government funding for the search efforts.

“Now you have the comfort and knowledge of knowing where your loved ones lie,” Ms Bligh said.

Before the ceremony, students from the Centaur Primary School at Banora Point, read out the names of those who lost their lives and handed out flowers.